Cooler.



T. M. CHAPMAN.

COOLER.

APPLIICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1918.

1,290,085. Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

T. M. CHAPMAN.

COOLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1913- 1,290,085. Patented Jan.'7, 1919.

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THOMAS M. CHAPMAN, or WOBTHAM, TEXAS.

COOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. *7, 1919.

Application filed January 26, 1918. Serial No. 214,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. Gnar- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wortham, in the county of Freestone and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coolers,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, wherein one or a plurality of chambers will be retained in a cooled condition without the employment of ice.

In carrying out the invention, I propose to produce an iceless refrigerator, constructed of any number of chambers, each comprising a shelf with pans arranged above shelf with pans arranged above and below the shelf, each of said chambers being further provided, at the top thereof, with suitable ventilating means, the uppermost pan having arranged thereover a water tank having means for regulating the outlet therefrom into the said upper pan, each of the chambers being surrounded by a fabric sheet which has both of its ends arranged in the pans so. as to become saturated with the Water both by capillary attraction and by the outflow of Water from the water tank causing'the said water to slowly drip over the entire surface of the fabric sheets to retain the chambers in a cooled condition,

and also to permit of a certain quantity of water being received on the lower pan, and

whereby each of the chambers provides a dry shelf anda wet shelf, the lower water pans constituting the latter so that the de vice will accommodate various classes of 7 articles or food to .retain the same in the desired cool condition.

It is a still further object of the invention to produce a device of this character which may be readily knocked down or folded, when not desired for use, to present a small package for storage'or shipment.

It is a still further obJect of the invention to produce an iceless refrigerator that shall be of an extremely simple construction, comparatively cheap to manufacture, automatic in its action and thoroughly efficient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an iceless refrigerator constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approxi mately at a right angle to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the supports for the chambers may be disconnected to permit of the collapsing of the device.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the manner'in which the water may be automatically fed to the fabric sheets.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the shelves. In the construction of my improved refrigerating device, disclosed by the drawings, I have. illustrated an upper chamber A and a lower chamber B, and in this connection, it is to be stated that one or any desired number of refrigerating chambers may be employed.

Each of the chambers has approximately centrally arranged therein a shelf 10, the said shelves being supported by corner posts 11. The posts are preferably in the nature of angle members, and are provided at points opposite the flanges of the shelves 10 with openings that register with notches 12 in the flanges 10 of the shelves 10. Passing through the openings in the posts 11 are the shanks of headed threaded members 13 which are engaged by wing nuts 13. The heads of the members 13 are passed through the notches 12 and by adjusting the nuts the angle posts 11 will contact with the corner of the shelves, and the said shelves be effectively retained on the posts. This arrangement also permits of the removal of the posts from the shelves, so that the device may be collapsed or folded to provide a small package for shipment or storage, when not in use.

Each of the refrigerating compartments, on the opposite sides of the shelf 10, is provided with pans. The pan for the upper chamber is indicated by the numeral 1% and preferably has upon its lower face and at its corners, sockets 15 to receive the corner posts 11. The pan 14 is provided with spaced openings which are surrounded by sleeveslG, and each of the sleeves has arranged therein a pivoted valve 17, the said sleeves and openings providing air inlets to the upper chamber 10 and the inlet of air is regulated by the valves 17 The upper pan 14: is designed to receive thereon a water tank 18, the same having a funnel inlet 19, and an outlet cook 20. The valve of the cock 20 may be ad justed to regulate the outflow from the tank 18 into the, pan 14. The funnel 19 may be removed from the tank 18, and the said tank inverted as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The tank is retained at an angle by the arrangement of wedged shaped slidable skids 50, arranged, therebeneath. The adjustment of these skids regulates the level of the water inthe draw panl l, and the air pressure on the water is regulated by the adjustment of the cock 20.

As disclosed by the drawings, the corner 'posts of each of the chambers A and B are arranged at an inclination, the pan 21 which provides the lower wall for the upper chamber A as well as the upper wall for the lower chamber B, being of a larger sizethan the pan 14 that provides the top for the chamber A. The'pan 21,.adja'cent'the corners thereof is provided with openings through which pass sleeves 22,the said sleeves being secured to the pan; Corner posts 11 are passed through the sleeves 22, and contacting with thejfiopposite inner edges thereof, by virtue of the inclination of the said posts, hold the pan 2 1 onthe said posts. The sleeves serve as foulair outlets from the lower chamber B. The pan 21 is, centrally provided with, an openingnormally closed by a plug 21., and through this opening the water from the pan may find an outlet, 1f desired.

The lower pan24 is larger than, the remaining pans and in reality provides the base for the construction. Thepan 2d,, at its corners, is formed with depending legs 25, so that the said pan is elevated a suitable distance above the ground or other supporting surfa'ce,and the pan 2tis provided with an overflow pipe} 26 and an additional outlet opening. normally closed by a plug 2%.

For each of the compartments A and B,

4 I: provide a closure in the nature of a fabric sheet, 27 respectively, both of the'ends of thesaid sheets, being received in the respective upper and lower pans ofvthe, chambers A and B; The edges of these fabric coverings overlap and are connected to the edg'esofthe pans 14; and 21 by spring clips 51, the arrangement being such that, access may be obtained to the compartments in the chambers A and B. The upper end of the, cloth for the upper chamber being. im-

mersed in'the water'in the pan 1 1 will become saturated and the water from the said saturated cloth will drip therefrom into the pan 21, immersing the upper end of the cloth for the lower chamber B, and the said lower cloth will become saturated by capillary attraction, the water therefrom dripping into the base pan 24 finding an outlet through the overflow pipe 26. The saturated cloths present. evaporating sur-' faces to retain the compartments of the chambers in a cooled condition to preserve the articles arranged in the said chambers. The lower pans, being, at all times, partly filled with water, are especially adaptable for the reception of crooks containing milk or butter to be cooled, while the shelves are designed to receive articles which might be effected by a direct contact with the water.

The water may be allowed to drip from the tank 18 from the cook 20, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ofthe drawings, but

preferably the tank is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. It will be apparent thatthe water in the pan 14, saturating the edge of the cloth orfacing secured in the said pan will. flow by capillary attraction over. the upper cloth, saturating the edge of the lower cloth, and inra like manner fiowingby capillary attraction over the. lower part. The tank when in the position illustrated in Fig. 5' requires no attention, except, for the replenishing of the water therein. Byadjusting. the,-

wedge shaped skid members 50 any, desired level of water, may be obtainediinthe pan 1 1. The cloth 'facings permit of easy access being obtained to the compartments in the ice several chambers, and the said facings, when a closed, will effectively protect thefood products in the refrigerator against, dust, vermin, or any other contaminating agencies, and furthermore, the, reticulated vent V sleeves will provide outlets for the odor from.

the contents. of, the refrigerator and insure the sanitation thereof;

'Having thus described the invention, what I claim is? 1. An iceless refrigerator comprising a plurality f superimposed compartments each including, a shelf, and, pansjarranged at the top and bottom of-eachcompartment, the pan providing the bottom wall .of one of the compartments. formingftll'e adjacent.

with, to support the intermediate pan,.ire-

movable means for securing shelves-to! the posts, a fabric casing for each. of the compartments, clips for removably securing thecasing to the upper pans of each of thecompartments, a water containing-tank onthe top pan having a cock andan opening, and l removable and adjustable wedge members in the said pan underlying the tank to space the opening therein from the bottom of the pan whereby to control the outlet of water from the tank into the pan.

2. An iceless refrigerator comprising a plurality of superimposed compartments, each including a shelf, and pans arranged at the top and bottom of each compartment, the pan providing the bottom wall of one of the compartments forming the adjacent Wall of the other compartment, sleeves at the corners of the intermediate pan, corner posts passing through the sleeves and frictionally contacting therewith to support the intermediate pan, shelves for the compartments, removable means for securing said shelves to the corner posts, a fabriccasing for each of the compartments, means for securing said casings to the upper pans of the respective oompartments, and means for delivering a fluid to the upper pan of the upper compartment to immerse the top edge of the casing thereof and permit of the fluid being delivered to the intermediate pan and to the casing for the lower compartment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS M. CHAPMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0." 

